User Interface for Searching an Electronic Document

ABSTRACT

A graphical user interface (GUI) capable of presenting a display that indicates that navigation controls can be used for navigating through results of a search using a search engine. The GUI highlights the GUI control that accepts text characters for indicating a search term such that the area contrasts with the display of an adjacent display area in response to entering the search term. Once the search is initiated, such as by actuating a search initiation control, the GUI may change to highlight navigation controls to indicate that those controls can be used to navigate between search result hits. Additional icons or controls may be displayed to further indicate the function of navigation controls and actions that may be taken to further modify the display of controls, such as collapsing some of the controls.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to providing a user interface forsearching an electronic document and specifically to a user interfacethat provides an indication that navigation controls for an electronicdocument editor can be used to navigate through search results.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electronic document editors are widely used in homes and businessestoday. Familiar examples of these editors include word processingapplications that operate on personal computers (PCs) and note-takingapplications that operate on personal data assistants (PDAs). Theseapplications strive to replace paper as the simplest means to record andcommunicate information. Computer technology provides these applicationswith advantages over paper, including the capability to search for aword or phrase over a large number of electronic pages of content in avery short period of time and the ability to change format and contentof an electronic document at the click of a button.

Electronic document editors may display images and receive commandsthrough a graphical user interface (GUI). A GUI may include a displayscreen. An electronic document editor may display, along with thecontent of an electronic document, controls that enable a user to inputinformation into the electronic document or navigate from one point inthe document to another. A user may actuate these controls by using apointing device, such as a mouse or stylus. A common example of suchcontrols is a toolbar with buttons that can be actuated by a user toaffect document formatting and style or initiate a macro or anothersoftware program.

In developing electronic document editors, a balance must be struckbetween user-accessible controls shown to a user by a GUI and theoverall functionality of the displayed images. A GUI with too fewcontrols may require a user to perform additional steps to inputinformation to the editor, such as using a drop-down menu as compared toa control visible on the GUI display. A GUI with too many controls mayresult in a smaller viewable image of text and pictures contained in anelectronic document or may crowd controls in one location of thedisplay, which may limit the aesthetic or ergonomic quality of thedisplay. This balance could be acutely important for a free-formdocument editor, which may reside on computer hardware that is designedto be small and portable so as to emulate a traditional notebook ofpaper. A GUI that could use the same controls for multiple purposes yetbe able to readily communicate to a user what function will be performedby actuating the control would help to maximize the usefulness of anelectronic document display.

One specific capability that an electronic document editor may have isto allow a user to search for a specific word or phrase in an electronicdocument through a search routine, in other words, a function of theelectronic document editor that enables a user to find the specific wordor phrase among the entire content within one or more electronicdocuments. The editor may display occurrences of the searched word orphrase, also referred to as hits, through a GUI in a manner thatdistinguishes the word or phrase from surrounding words and phrases. Forexample, the GUI can highlight the specific occurrences of the searchedword or phrase in the electronic document in a color different from thebackground color of the electronic document display. The electronicdocument editor may allow the user to navigate through the document toeach preceding or successive hit. This navigation may be accomplished bypressing one or more keys on a keyboard or by actuating a controldisplayed by the GUI using a pointing device. To perform a search, atypical word processor program may open a separate window in response toa user command and this separate window may be capable of accepting thesearch word or phrase, also referred to as a search term, and have othercontrols that affect the conduct of the search. This window may havecontrols that allow the user to navigate to hits of the word or phrasethroughout the document.

Some word processing programs have controls on the GUI with multiplefunctions. For example, WORD, a word processing program developed byMicrosoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash., uses arrow-like controls thatallow a user to move from one page to the next in an electronicdocument. After a user performs a search, for example by entering asearch term into a box that accepts text characters and actuating asearch initiation control, the arrow-like controls may enable a user tomove to successive hits of that search term. This navigation capabilitymay occur even after a user has closed a separate GUI available forconducting a search, such as a search window. The arrow-like controlsmay change color to indicate a change in function. One deficiency withthis type of multiple-function control is that it is not associated bythe GUI with the specific function. In the example of the WORD program,the arrow-like controls are not located near other search controls orotherwise connected by the GUI to the search controls such that the GUIcommunicates an association with the navigation controls and the searchfunction.

What is needed is a GUI capable of displaying multi-function navigationcontrols and associating the function of the controls with the basis forthe navigation, such as navigating between preceding or successive hitsfollowing initiating a search routine in an electronic document.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a graphical user interface (GUI) capableof changing its display to indicate that navigation controls can be usedfor navigating through results of a search conducted in the electronicdocument. The navigation controls are typically used to cause a GUI todisplay another portion of content of an electronic document, such as tothe next page. A GUI may highlight the control that accepts textcharacters for indicating a search term such that the area contrastswith the display of an adjacent display area in response to entering asearch term. Once the search is initiated, such as by actuating a searchinitiation control, the GUI may change to highlight navigation controlslocated adjacent to the search controls to indicate that those controlscan be used to navigate between search result hits. Additional icons orcontrols may be displayed to further indicate the function of navigationcontrols and actions that may be taken to further modify the display ofcontrols, such as collapsing some of the controls.

In one aspect of the present invention, a computer-implemented methodfor changing a first function of one or more navigation controls on theuser interface to a second function is provided, wherein each navigationcontrol is located adjacent to one or more search controls. The methodcomprises the steps of (1) changing a display image of the searchcontrols on a user interface display in response to receiving a searchterm into a search term location of an electronic document editor; (2)assigning the second function to the navigation controls whilesimultaneously discontinuing the first function of the navigationcontrols; and (3) changing a display image of the navigation controls onthe user interface in response to the assigning of the second functionto the navigation controls. The display image of the navigation controlsis changed in the same way as the change of the display image of thesearch controls.

In another aspect, a computer-implemented method for changing thedisplay of one or more navigation controls on a user interface of anelectronic document editor is provided. The method comprises the stepsof (1) changing a display image of one or more search controls on a userinterface display in response to receiving a search term into a searchterm location of an electronic document editor; and (2) changing adisplay image of the navigation controls on the user interface inresponse to conducting a search of the search term in the electronicdocument editor. The display image of the navigation controls aredisplayed on the user interface adjacent to the display image of thesearch controls and the display image of the navigation controls ischanged in the same way as the change of the display image of the searchcontrols

The aspects of the present invention may be more clearly understood andappreciated from a review of the following detailed description of thedisclosed embodiments and by reference to the drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a representative operatingenvironment for an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting the primary functional components ofan exemplary electronic document editor and related input devices.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram presenting a process for a graphical userinterface (GUI) to affect a display image to associate navigationcontrols for an electronic document with a search function in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 a is a flow diagram presenting a process for a user interfacemodule changing the display of search controls in an electronic documentin accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 b is a flow diagram presenting a process for a user interfacemodule changing the display of navigation controls in an electronicdocument in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a display image depicting navigation and search controls foran electronic document editor in relationship to other controls for theelectronic document editor in accordance with an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6 is a display image depicting navigation and search controls foran electronic document editor in accordance with an exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a display image depicting the use of search controls for anelectronic document editor in accordance with an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 8 is a display image depicting a GUI affecting the display image ofnavigation and search controls for an electronic document editor when asearch is being performed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 9 is a display image depicting an alternative display of an GUIaffecting the display image of navigation and search controls for anelectronic document editor when a search is being performed inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention support a graphical userinterface (GUI) of an electronic document editor to displaymulti-function navigation controls and associate the function of thecontrols with the basis for the navigation, such as navigating betweenpreceding or successive hits following a search of an electronicdocument.

FIG. 1 illustrates a representative operating environment 100 for anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. This representativeoperating environment includes a general-purpose computing device in theform of a conventional personal computer 101. Generally, the personalcomputer 101 includes a processing unit 120, a system memory 104, and asystem bus 102 that couples system components including the systemmemory 104 to the processing unit 120. The system bus 102 may be any ofseveral types of bus structures including a memory bus or memorycontroller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any busarchitecture. The system memory includes a read-only memory (ROM) 106and a random access memory (RAM) 110. A basic input/output system (BIOS)108, containing the basic routines that help to transfer informationbetween elements within personal computer 101, such as during start-up,is stored in ROM 106.

Personal computer 101 further includes a hard disk drive 128, a floppydisk drive 132 for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk134, and an optical disk drive 138 for reading from or writing to aremovable optical disk 140 such as a CD-ROM or other optical media. Harddisk drive 128, magnetic disk drive 132, and optical disk drive 138 areconnected to system bus 102 by a hard disk drive interface 120, a floppydisk drive interface 130, and a CD-ROM disk drive interface 136,respectively. Although the exemplary environment described hereinemploys hard disk 128, removable magnetic disk 134, and removableoptical disk 140, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat other types of computer readable media that can store data that isaccessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memorycards, digital video disks, Bernoulli cartridges, RAMs, ROMs, and thelike, may also be used in the exemplary operating environment. Thedrives and their associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatilestorage of computer-executable instructions, data structures, programmodules, and other data for personal computer 101.

A number of program modules may be stored on hard disk 128, magneticdisk 134, optical disk 140, ROM 106, or RAM 110, including an operatingsystem 112, an electronic document editor 114, and multiple applicationprograms 116-118. A representative embodiment of a document editor isdisclosed in more detail below in connection with FIG. 2. Programmodules typically include routines, sub-routines, programs, objects,components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks orimplement particular abstract data types.

A user may enter commands and information into personal computer 101through input devices, such as a keyboard 146 and a pointing device,such as mouse 144. Pointing devices may also include a trackball (notshown) and an electronic pen or stylus (not shown) that can be used inconjunction with an electronic tablet or a typical display screen. Otherinput devices (all not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, gamepad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devicesare often connected to processing unit 120 through a serial portinterface 142 that is coupled to the system bus 102, but may beconnected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port, auniversal serial bus (USB), or the like. A display device, such asmonitor 124, may also be connected to system bus 102 via an interface,such as a video adapter 122. The monitor 124 may display imagesgenerated by an application program, such as an electronic documenteditor 114, and comprise a GUI by which a user can input information tothe application program and the application program can communicateinformation to a user. In addition to the monitor 124, personalcomputers typically include other peripheral output devices (not shown),such as speakers and printers.

The personal computer 101 may operate in a networked environment usinglogical connections to one or more remote computers 154. Remote computer154 may be another personal computer, a server, a client, a router, anetwork PC, a peer device, or other common network node. While a remotecomputer 154 typically includes many or all of the elements describedabove relative to the personal computer 101, only a memory storagedevice 156 has been illustrated in FIG. 1. The memory storage device 156may include application program 158 and application program 160. Thelogical connections depicted in FIG. 1 include a local area network(LAN) 152 and a wide area network (WAN) 162. Such networkingenvironments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computernetworks, intranets, and the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the personal computer 101 isoften connected to the local area network 152 through a networkinterface or adapter 150. When used in a WAN networking environment, thepersonal computer 101 typically includes a modem 148 or other means forestablishing communications over WAN 162, such as the Internet. Modem148, which may be internal or external, is connected to system bus 102via serial port interface 142. It will be appreciated that the networkconnections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing acommunications link between the computers may be used.

Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the presentinvention may be implemented in other computer system configurations,including PDAs, electronic writing tablets, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, networkperson computers, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Theinvention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments,where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linkedthrough a communications network. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules may be located in both local and remotememory storage devices.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting the primary functional components ofan exemplary electronic document editor and related input devices forthe representative operating environment of an electronic writingtablet, otherwise described as an electronic tablet. Specifically, FIG.2 depicts an architecture 200 for an electronic writing tablet in thecontext of an electronic document editor constructed in accordance withan exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Conventional inputdevices are represented by the keyboard 260 and the pointing device 265(e.g., mouse, trackball). Other output devices (not shown) can include aprinter or speaker. Other hardware components shown in FIG. 2 include anelectronic tablet 250 and an accompanying stylus 255. The tablet 250 andstylus 255 are used to input handwriting strokes that can be convertedto data, referred to as electronic ink. The electronic ink may beincorporated into an electronic document 220 and may be displayed oneither the electronic tablet 250, the monitor 270, or both. Although theelectronic tablet 250 and the monitor 270 are illustrated as beingdistinct, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, they canbe integrated into a single component. The joint tablet/monitorcomponent has the ability to display information and receive input fromthe stylus 255. In other words, the joint tablet/monitor component hasthe ability to provide a GUI for interacting with the document editingmodule 205.

In the representative architecture 200, an ink-processing module 225 isoperable to receive data from the electronic tablet 250 and to renderthat data as electronic ink. In one embodiment of the present invention,the ink-processing module 225 can be a collection of software modulesthat perform different tasks for rendering handwriting strokes aselectronic ink. For example, the stylus and ink module 228 can receivedata describing the positions and angles of the stylus for a series ofhandwriting strokes. The stylus and ink module 228 can interpret thedata for rendering electronic ink. Other software modules, such as agesture recognizer 230 and word recognizer 235 can be designed toidentify certain handwriting strokes and assign them a particularsignificance. For example, certain gestures such as a cross-out may berecognized and associated with other editing processes. Theink-processing module 225 can also include an erasing functions module240 for removing electronic ink that has been previously rendered.

Although ink processing modules are known in the art and necessary foran electronic tablet to function, a novel document editing module hasbeen developed by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. thatcapitalizes on the benefits of handwriting processing technology. Themodule (i.e., document editor) is a free-form document editor thatleverages the functionality of electronic handwriting technology toenable more effective and efficient note taking. Specifically, documentediting module 205 facilitates manipulating electronic ink so that auser can create and modify an electronic document 220 with greater easeand sophistication. The document editing module 205 typically comprisesa collection of software modules for controlling and manipulatingelectronic ink rendered on the monitor 270.

The exemplary electronic document editor also includes a search module210 and a UI module 215. A user may want to locate a word or phrasewithin an electronic document 220. The word or phrase, also referred toherein as a search term, can be inputted to the document editing module205 by as user, through the keyboard 260, the stylus 255, or other inputdevice. The exemplary search module 210 locates occurrences of thesearch term, also referred to herein as hits, in response to a userinitiating a search. The search module 210 also causes the GUI todistinctly display the hits to a user, such as by highlighting the hitsin an electronic document 220 in a way that contrasts with the normaldisplay of the electronic document's 220 content. In the alternative,the search module 210 provides a listing of hits in a separate windowwhere each listed hit may be linked to a location in an electronicdocument containing that hit.

The exemplary UI module 215 may control the images displayed on thetablet 250 or the monitor 270. The UI module may accept input data froma user to the document editing module 205, such as when a user actuatesa control displayed by the UI module 215 with a pointing device 265 orstylus 255. The UI module 215 typically displays a variety of imagesthat can be used to input information to the document editing module205, such as buttons, menus, drop-down boxes, and boxes that accept textcharacters.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate most directly todisplaying search and navigation controls in an electronic document 220.FIGS. 1 and 2 provide a general overview of the environments in whichthe inventors contemplate exemplary embodiments of the present inventionwill be used.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram presenting a process 300 for a UI module 215 toaffect a display image to associate navigation controls for anelectronic document 220 with a search function in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 2 and3, at step 310, a user enters a search term into a search term entrylocation provided by the UI module 215, such as a box that can acceptalphanumeric characters. At step 320, the UI module 215 highlights thesearch term entry location in response to detecting an entry of thesearch term at step 310. This highlighting may include displaying thebackground of the search term entry location in a color that contrastswith the background color of the surrounding display area on the GUI.Step 320 is discussed in greater detail below, in conjunction with FIG.4 a.

At step 330, the search module 210 executes a search for the search termentered at step 310 in response to a user actuating a search initiationcontrol. This search initiation control may be a button adjacent to thelocation for entering the search term. At step 340, the UI module 215extends highlighting to include navigation controls that may be locatedadjacent to the location for entering the search term. When a search isnot being conducted, these navigation controls, located adjacent to thelocation for entering the search term, may be used for other operations,such as causing a GUI to display a portion of content in an electronicdocument 220, typically a preceding or succeeding page. This step 340 isdiscussed in greater detail below, in conjunction with FIG. 4 b.

At step 350, the UI module 215 alters the function of navigationcontrols, enabling a user to navigate between successive hits, using thenavigation controls that have been highlighted in step 340. The UImodule 215 converts existing navigation controls to controls that willnavigate among hits resulting from the search executed at step 330. Inother words, instead of causing a GUI to display a preceding orsucceeding page of content in an electronic document 220 or some otherfunction that is performed by the navigation controls when a search isnot being conducted, the UI module 215 assigns a function to thesenavigation controls that correspond to, for example, moving to precedingor successive hits that resulted from conducting a search. The UI module215 can convert the function of the navigation control in parallel withstep 340. As the appearance of the controls are changed, such as byhighlighting the controls with a contrasting background, the function ofthe controls may change.

In response to the user's action at step 350, the document editingmodule 205 may display, through the GUI, a portion of an electronicdocument 220 that contains a search result hit. The navigation controlshighlighted at step 340 may include controls that enable a user toselect the direction to move in the electronic document 220 to find thenext hit relative to the insertion point, such as having two arrows, onefor moving toward the end of the electronic document 220 and one formoving toward the beginning of the electronic document 220. This hit maybe the first hit encountered when moving in the document a directioncorresponding to a navigation control relative to the location of theinsertion point in the electronic document 220.

At step 360, the process 300 returns the GUI to its configuration whennot conducting a search, in other words, the UI module 215 reverses thesteps for processes 320 and 340 and step 350. Step 360 may be initiatedby a user placing an insertion point (IP) into the content of theelectronic document 220. At step 370, the process 300 determines if anew search is to be conducted, that is, if a different search term is tobe located in the electronic document. This decision may be based onwhether a user has entered a new word or phrase at the search termlocation. If a new search is to be conducted, the process 300 returns tostep 310. Otherwise, the process 300 ends at step 380.

The process 300 differs from the prior art in that the search controlsand normal navigation controls, that is, controls that enable a user tocause a GUI to display a preceding or succeeding page of content of anelectronic document or similar navigation, are located adjacent to oneanother on the GUI display. As such, the UI module 215 can change thedisplay of the GUI to visually or otherwise indicate that, when a searchis initiated, the normal function of the controls have changed and thecontrols now support the search function. This indication isdemonstrated by the connection between the GUI display of the normalsearch controls and the same type of display for the navigationcontrols, such as having the same type of highlighting for the searchand navigation controls. Similarly, when the search routine ends, the UImodule 215 can change the display to indicate that the navigationcontrols have returned to their normal function, such as by removing thehighlighting from the controls.

FIG. 4 a is a flow diagram presenting a process 320 for a user interfacemodule 215 changing the display of search controls in an electronicdocument 220 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 a, at step 410, the UI module215 detects that an IP has been inserted at a search term location atstep 310. At step 420, the UI module determines if the search termlocation has a sacrificial glom. For example, the glom may display thewords “Type text to find,” which indicates to the user where to enterthe search term and disappears when an IP is placed at that location. Ifso, the UI module 215 may discontinue displaying the sacrificial glom,at step 430. Otherwise, the process 320 moves to step 440 and the UImodule 215 modifies the display to change the appearance of the searchterm location, for example, a box that accepts text charactersrepresenting a search term.

At step 440, the change may comprise highlighting the search termlocation. This highlighting may include displaying the background of thesearch term entry location in a color that contrasts with the backgroundcolor of the surrounding display area on the GUI. At step 450, the UImodule 215 modifies the display to change the appearance of the searchinitiation control, for example, a button that a user may actuate tobegin a search once a search term has been entered at the search termlocation. Similarly, this change may comprise highlighting the searchinitiation control. For example, the background of the search initiationcontrol can be displayed in a color that contrasts with the backgroundcolor of the surrounding display area on the GUI. In another example,the appearance of the control itself could be altered by changing the animage on the control, such as the text “Find.” One skilled in the artwould appreciate that the display may be changed in other ways toindicate that a search term has been entered at the search termlocation. Following step 450, the process 320 continues on to step 330.

One skilled in the art would appreciate that, even though steps 310 and320 and steps 410 through 450 are presented as a series of events, allof these steps may occur simultaneously when a pointing device 265 orstylus 255 places an insertion point (IP) at the search term entrylocation.

FIG. 4 b is a flow diagram presenting a process 320 for a user interfacemodule 215 changing the display of navigation controls in an electronicdocument 220 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 a, and 4 b, at step 460, the UImodule 215 changes the display of any navigation controls adjacent tothe search controls changed at steps 440 and 450. The change maycomprise highlighting the navigation controls. For example, thebackground of the navigation controls can be displayed in a color thatcontrasts with the background color of the surrounding display area onthe GUI and may be the same as the highlighting of the search controls.One skilled in the art would appreciate that highlighting the display isjust one way that a GUI may distinguish controls used for conducting asearch or navigating search results from other near-by controls on thedisplay. Alternative ways of distinguishing the controls may includechanging the shape or color of the controls.

At step 470, the UI module 215 changes the depiction of one or moreicons associated with the navigation controls. For example, thenavigation controls may have an icon, such as a depiction of a page oftext in a word processor, associated with the controls. This icontypically indicates to a user the function of the controls. At step 470,this icon may be changed to indicate the new function of the controls,such as by changing the icon to a magnifying glass to indicate that thecontrols support a search function.

At step 480, the UI module 215 determines if any other search supportcontrols are present on the GUI display adjacent to the search controls.The UI module 215 may display additional controls adjacent to thenavigation controls, such as a display collapse control. The displaycollapse control, in response to a user actuating it with a pointingdevice 265, a stylus 255, or other input device, such as a key or keyson a keyboard 260, may cause the UI module 215 to change the displayimage by hiding certain controls that were visible prior to actuatingthe collapse control. If present, the process 340 moves to step 490 andthe display is changed with respect to these controls. These controlsmay include a chevron symbol control used to collapse or expand thedisplay of other controls. The change may comprise highlighting thenavigation controls. For example, the background of the additionalcontrols can be displayed in a color that contrasts with the backgroundcolor of the surrounding display area on the GUI and may be the same asthe highlighting of the search and navigation controls. If no additionalcontrols are present, or after step 490, the process 340 continues tostep 350 of process 300.

FIG. 5 is a display image 500 depicting navigation and search controlsfor an electronic document editor 114 (FIG. 1) in relationship to othercontrols for the electronic document editor 114 (FIG. 1) in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIGS. 2 and 5, the UI module 215 may present a variety of controls tofacilitate a user providing input information to and receiving outputinformation from an electronic document 220. These controls typicallyinclude drop-down menus, such as “File” menu 510, toolbars 520, 530,540, document tabs, such as a document tab 550, a search entry box 560,a search initiation control 570, and a navigation control 580. Thenavigation control 580 is located adjacent to the search controls 560,570. The toolbars 520, 530, 540 typically contain controls that allow auser to print the electronic document 220, format text characters in theelectronic document 220, or move among different electronic documents220.

FIG. 6 is a display image 600 depicting navigation and search controlsfor an electronic document editor 114 (FIG. 1) prior to the initiationof a search in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, the exemplary UI module 215provides a box 610 for entering alphanumeric characters that comprise asearch term. The box 610 may contain a sacrificial glom 620, such as onethat contains the characters “Type text to find,” to indicate to a userwhere to insert the insertion point to enter a search term. The UImodule 215 also provides a search initiation control 630. The user mayinitiate a search after a search term has been entered into box 610 byactuating a control button 630 with a pointing device 265, stylus 255,or other input device. The search initiation control 630 may have textassociated with it to indicate its function, such as the word “Find.”Navigation controls are positioned adjacent to the search box 610 andsearch initiation control 630. These controls include buttons 640, 660for changing the display of content in a specific direction in anelectronic document 220. The navigation controls also include an icon650 indicating the current function of the navigation buttons 640, 660,such as an icon depicting a page of text to indicate that the navigationcontrols changes the display to content on the next or previous page inthe electronic document 220.

FIG. 7 is a display image 700 depicting the response of the GUI when asearch of an electronic document 220 is conducted in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 2, 6,and 7, the search procedure is initiated when a user places an insertionpoint 710 into the search box 610, for example with a pointing device265, a stylus 255, or other input device, such as a key or keys on akeyboard 260. The sacrificial glom 620 may disappear when the insertionpoint 710 is placed in the search box 610. The exemplary UI module 215,in response to the initiation of the search procedure, highlights thesearch box 610 and search initiation control 630. In other words, the UImodule 215 may change the color of the background behind the search box610 and search initiation control 630 to contrast with the background ofa display area adjacent to the search box 610 and search initiationcontrol 630. At this point in the search procedure, the UI module 215may not change the appearance of the navigation controls, includingbuttons 640, 660 and icon 650.

FIG. 8 is a display image 800 depicting a GUI affecting the displayimage of navigation and search controls when a search is being performedin accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIGS. 2 and 8, following a user entering the search term810 into the search box 610 and actuating the search initiation control630, the exemplary UI module 215 changes the display such that ahighlighted region of the display 820 encompasses the search box 610,search initiating control 630 and navigation controls, such as buttons640, 660 and an icon 830. The UI module 215 may change the icon 830 toindicate the current function of the navigation control buttons 640,660. For example, the icon 830 may be a magnifying glass, to indicate toa user that the navigation control buttons 640, 660 correspond to asearch function.

Additionally, the UI module 215 may display a collapse control, such asa chevron control 840. The chevron control 840 may have the points ofthe chevron pointing upward, to indicate to a user that the navigationcontrol buttons 640, 660 could be hidden.

FIG. 9 is a display image 900 depicting an alternative display of a GUIaffecting the display image of navigation and search controls when asearch is being performed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention. Referring to FIGS. 2, 8, and 9, image 900 depictsa change in the display image as compared to display image 800. Thischange may be in response to a user actuating the chevron collapsecontrol 840. The exemplary UI module 215 typically hides navigationcontrol buttons 640, 660 and icon 830 in response to actuating thechevron collapse control 840. Similarly, the highlight region 910 mayshrink to encompass the search box 610 and search initiation control630. Additionally, the UI module 215 may rotate the chevron collapsecontrol 840 to form control 920 such that the points of the chevronpoint down, indicating to a user that controls are currently beinghidden but could be revealed by actuating control 920.

One skilled in the art would appreciate that the present inventionsupports a method for a GUI to change a display to indicate thatnavigation controls can be used for navigating through results of asearch conducted in an electronic document. A GUI may highlight the GUIcontrol that accepts text characters for indicating a search term suchthat the area contrasts with the display of an adjacent display area inresponse to entering the search term. Once the search is initiated, suchas by actuating a search initiation control, the GUI may change tohighlight navigation controls to indicate that those controls can beused to navigate between search result hits. Additional icons orcontrols may be displayed to further indicate the function of navigationcontrols and actions that may be taken to further modify the display ofcontrols, such as collapsing some of the controls.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A computer-implemented method for changing adisplay image of one or more search controls in a user interface,comprising: displaying a rotatable control and one or more navigationcontrols adjacent to the one or more search controls in the userinterface, the one or more navigation controls being utilized fornavigating through results of a search of an electronic documentinitiated by the one or more search controls; receiving an input on therotatable control to change an orientation of the rotatable control froma first orientation to a second orientation; rotating the rotatablecontrol from the first orientation to the second orientation in responseto receiving the input; and hiding the one or more navigation controlswhen the rotatable control is in the second orientation.
 22. The methodof claim 21, further comprising extending a highlight regionencompassing the one or more search controls to encompass the one ormore navigation controls following the initiation of the search of theelectronic document by the one or more search controls.
 23. The methodof claim 21, further comprising, in response to receiving the input onthe rotatable control, reducing a highlight region encompassing the oneor more navigation controls to encompass the one or more searchcontrols.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein reducing the highlightregion encompassing the one or more navigation controls to encompass theone or more search controls comprises reducing the highlight region whenthe search is being performed.
 25. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising rotating the rotatable control from the second orientation tothe first orientation in response to receiving another input on therotatable control.
 26. The method of claim 25, further comprisingrevealing the one or more navigation controls when the rotatable controlis in the first orientation.
 27. A system for changing a display imageof one or more search controls in a user interface, comprising: a memoryfor storing executable program code; and a processor, functionallycoupled to the memory, the processor being responsive tocomputer-executable instructions contained in the program code andoperative to: display a rotatable control and one or more navigationcontrols adjacent to the one or more search controls in the userinterface), the one or more navigation controls being utilized fornavigating through results of a text search initiated by the one or moresearch controls; receive an input on the rotatable control to change anorientation of the rotatable control from a first orientation to asecond orientation; rotate the rotatable control from the firstorientation to the second orientation in response to receiving theinput; and hide the one or more navigation controls when the rotatablecontrol is in the second orientation.
 28. The system of claim 27,wherein the processing unit is further operative to extend a highlightregion encompassing the one or more search controls to encompass the oneor more navigation controls following the initiation of the text searchby the one or more search controls.
 29. The system of claim 27, whereinthe processing unit, in response to receiving the input on the rotatablecontrol, is further operative to reduce a highlight region encompassingthe one or more navigation controls to encompass the one or more searchcontrols.
 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the highlight region isreduced when the text search is being performed.
 31. The system of claim27, wherein the processing unit is further operative to rotate therotatable control from the second orientation to the first orientationin response to receiving another input on the rotatable control.
 32. Thesystem of claim 31, wherein the processing unit is further operative toreveal the one or more navigation controls when the rotatable control isin the first orientation.
 33. The system of claim 27, wherein therotatable control is displayed as a collapse control in the firstorientation.
 34. A computer-readable storage device storing a set ofcomputer-executable instructions implementing a method of changing adisplay image of a plurality of search controls in a user interface, themethod comprising: displaying a rotatable control and a plurality ofnavigation controls adjacent to the plurality of search controls in theuser interface, the plurality of navigation controls being utilized fornavigating through results of a search of an electronic documentinitiated by the plurality of search controls; receiving an input on therotatable control to change an orientation of the rotatable control froma first orientation to a second orientation; rotating the rotatablecontrol from the first orientation to the second orientation in responseto receiving the input; and hiding the one or more navigation controlswhen the rotatable control is in the second orientation.
 35. Thecomputer-readable storage device of claim 34, further comprisingextending a highlight region encompassing the one or more searchcontrols to encompass the one or more navigation controls following theinitiation of the search of the electronic document by the one or moresearch controls.
 36. The computer-readable storage device of claim 34,further comprising, in response to receiving the input on the rotatablecontrol, reducing a highlight region encompassing the one or morenavigation controls to encompass the one or more search controls. 37.The computer-readable storage device of claim 36, wherein reducing thehighlight region encompassing the one or more navigation controls toencompass the one or more search controls comprises reducing thehighlight region when the search is being performed.
 38. Thecomputer-readable storage device of claim 34, further comprisingrotating the rotatable control from the second orientation to the firstorientation in response to receiving another input on the rotatablecontrol.
 39. The computer-readable storage device of claim 38, furthercomprising revealing the one or more navigation controls when therotatable control is in the first orientation.
 40. The computer-readablestorage device of claim 34, wherein the rotatable control is displayedas a collapse control in the first orientation.